President Saddam Hussein addresses Moslem ulema

President Saddam Hussein
Addresses Moslem Ulema

Dar al-Ma'mun-

President Saddam Hussein
Addresses Moslem Ulema

Translated by
Naji al-Hadithi

Published by
Dar al-Ma'mun for Translation and Publishing

Baghdad - 1983

Foreword

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Under the motto, "For Common Action
Consolidating Islamic Solidarity to Confront
Dangers and Challenges", the First Popular Islamic
Conference was held in Baghdad on April 14-17,

1983.

On behalf of President Saddam Hussein, Mr. Izzat

Ibrahim, Vice-Chairman of the Revolution Command
Council, opened the Conference with a
speech that called for more cooperation and,
coordination among Muslems to face up to the new
challenges and threats besetting the Arab and
Muslem world as a whole.

President Hussein himself attended one of the
sessions and addressed the Conference on the
lraq~lran conflict expressing Iraq's agreement to
whatever the Conference may decide in this
respect.

■

The Conference was attended by more than 280
of MusJem Ulema (Scholars) from more than 50
countries.

The Conference took three decisions on Islamic
solidarity, the Iraq-Iran war and the Palestinian
question.

On the Iraq-fran war, the Conference called on the
governments of both countries to observe an
immediate ceasefire and pull their forces back to
international borders. It also formed a Peace and
Reconciliation Committee of 9 well-known Ulema
from 9 Muslem countries.

The Conference as well as its Peace and
Reconciliation Committee expressed regret at the
Iranian government's negative attitude towards the
Conference and its efforts aimed at solving the
conflict between the two Muslem countries.

This book contains the speech delivered by
President Saddam Hussein and the opening
ceremony speech by the Vice-Chairman of the
Revolution Command Council.

President Saddam Hussein's Address to the
Popular islamic Conference held in Baghdad

On April 14 -17, 1983

10

Dear Brothers,

With great pleasure, Baghdad embraces you as
Ulema, Imams and good brothers who have come

from various parts of the globe to say what you
consider useful, appropriate and right.

You are welcome.

It was my desire to attend your Conference at an
earlier stage. But it seems that the brothers in Iran
had timed their offensive with your Conference. As
you know, when the men sacrifice their noble blood
in defence of their honour and their land with all its
sanctuaries, it is our duty to be with them. Hence,
our attendance of your Conference to hear what you
say and to let you hear what we think appropriate,
has been delayed.

However, Brother Izzat Ibrahim the Vice-Chairman
has undertaken the task with the speech which^ou

i j

have heard and which represents our view and that
of the leadership and the government as well as of
the Iraqi people. I know that you have decided to
send invitation to the Ulema of Iran. Well done. It is a
religious law that, when circumstances permit, the
Muslims, should hear both parties to know where
the right is, where the truth is.

We, on our part, have no prejudice against any
logical. Islamic, human view. We believe that your
decision carries all these implications-the logical.
the Islamic and the human. Despite the fact that we
are now in a state of war. we hereby declare that we
agree to and are prepared for hosting
Khomeini himself in this Conference. Though this
may be out of keeping with international traditions, it
is not against our Arab and Islamic standards. We
are ready to host Khomeini himself in this
Conference as had this people and land hosted htm
for fourteen years. Perhaps hosting him again will
remind him of the first time he was received in Iraq,
and will offer a chance of good, love and peace for
all.

Moreover, and perhaps contrary to recognised
traditions in terms of international norms and the
responsibility of states and rulers, I would say, from

14

the highest authority in the State, we agree on every
decision you take.

I may apologise to the Iraqi people, the scholars of
international law, and those involved in politics and
legislature, for they may criticise Saddam Hussein
and say how a Head of State can agree in advance
to something he has not yet read or seen or known. I
would say to this criticism that when such a
gathering of good men who have come from all
parts of the globe, representing Muslims, are in
concensus on an opinion, it must be the right one.
Even if we have a different opinion we do not think
that ours would be sounder than that of all this
gathering.

If everyone of us substituted his own interpretation
for the interpretations of others, it would be
impossible for him to meet, integrate and or interact
with others. The history of Muslims and the relations
of their old leaders, thinkers and commanders
including the relationship between the Muslim's
leaders and the great Messenger Mohammed serve
as a good example guiding us to the right path.

Wc all know that the great Messenger, before
deciding on something, used to consult his
brothers, the Companions. The history of Islam tells

15

us that the Companions used to ask the Messenger
if that view was ordained by God or.was his own. If
he said it was his own opinion they would discuss it
with him, and the Messenger's view, after
discussion, would sometimes be replaced by that of
one of the Companions.

Iraq has nothing hidden or deceitful which it fears
it may be uncovered or exposed. Iraq wants to be
secure; and we do not think that the Muslims
meeting in this place or any where else do not want
Iraq to be secure. Iraq seeks the respect of its
international borders; and we do not think that you
want Iraqi territory to be occupied by anybody
whatsoever. Iraq wants a ceasefire. It wants peace.
When these constitute the declared and undeclared
points of ail that fraq seeks, we do not think that a
Muslim in this place or anywhere else will come
forward with an opposing stand, because this is
right and logical; it is a self-evident state of affairs.
Hence, we say in advance that we agree to
whatever is decided by the Muslims in whatever
form it may be expressed. It is on this basis that we
proposed arbitration in the Islamic Summit
Conference of Taif. We also proposed this to all
international organisations. We said to the Iranian

16

•

officials if they wanted arbitration by oth^r states
under international law they might so choose, and if
they wanted arbitration by Muslims they might so
choose as well.

However, Brothers, despite the bitterness of
attitudes and behaviour, we have maintained our
balance in view of the principles we hold and
respect. We have not maltreated a prisoner of war,
nor have we maltreated a woman or a child. We
have even refrained from striking at any target
unless compelled.

They started the war by shelling peaceful towns,
and when the Almighty God granted us success in
repelling their aggression and driving their army
back, we were in a depth sufficient to protect our
border towns which are very close to the borders.

Basra is a big town second only to Baghdad. It is
an industrial centre, and our only port on the Gulf. It
is just over 20 kilometres from the borders.
However, when we felt that it was the Muslims'
opinion that we should pull back from Iran's
territories, and despite our argument that if we
pulled back to the borders the Iranian artillery would
resume its shelling of our towns as it had done at the
beginning of the war, we decided to comply with the

17

Muslims' view and world public opinion. We even
respected the Iranian popular opinion.

When we pulled back to the borders, Iran's artillery
resumed its daily bombardment of our towns.

Nevertheless, we now and then make appeals and
issue warnings to Iran, so that our army shall not be
obliged to retaliate.

Whenever we made an appeal for peace, some
people imagined or had the illusion that it stemmed
from weakness. Which was never the case, and the
proof lies in the present conditions which are visible
to all.

Judging by the simplest forms of reason and the
simplest values of Islam, the Iranian rulers should
ask themselves: "How could Iraq, whose population
is one-fourth of that of Iran and whose land has so
insufficient depth that Iran's planes can cover the
whole of Iraq because of its smaller area and their
artillery can hit many Iraqi towns-which it is actually
doing everyday-how could Iraq achieve victory over
their expansionist and aggressive dreams? Those
officials should have asked themselves this
question and answered it wisely and directly that the
right was obviously not on their side.

However, victory, as one of our brother Egyptian

18

Ulemas has said, cannot lead us astray, and
capability conjoined to right cannot lead us to
conceit. The earlier peace can be achieved, the
better. A month's delay may cost the precious life of
one more person.

Baghdad is your city. It is a meeting place for you.
It is well-known that you do not yield to or flatter a
ruler at the expense of what is right, whether in your
countries proper or outside them. Baghdad is
therefore a meeting place for Muslims to say
whatever they deem right, appropriate and

legitimate.

At any rate, your place in our souls and in our
hearts shall remain high as ever.

Again, we welcome you. We wish you success and
all that enhances dignity, honour, security and
stability to yourselves all and those around you. We
trust we shall always see you well.

Peace be upon you.

19

President Saddam Hussein's

inaugural speech delivered

by

Mr. Izzat Ibrahim

Vice-Chalrman of the

Revolution Command Council

20

21

In the name of God,

The Merciful, the Compassionate,

Dear Ulema and Religious Figures
Members of the First Popular Islamic
Conference,

On behalf of President Saddam Hussein and on
behalf of Iraq, Leadership and people, I welcome
you in Baghdad, the city of peace, wishing your
Conference success in bringing about all that you
seek for the pride and well-being of Muslims and for
the promotion of the values of good, love and peace
among them.

22 23

Brothers,

A particular importance is attached to your
Conference in view of two facts. The first is your
positive response, from the prominent position you
occupy among Muslims, to the call for remedying
the rift, treating the reasons of decline in the
Muslims' life and establishing solidarity and
cooperation among them along the path of the.r
good at a time when our enemies, the Zionists and
their collaborators intensify their attempts to
fragment our ranks and weaken our unity.

The second fact is the popular aspect of this
Conference and its expression of the opinion of
Muslims in many countries of the world, who,
together with their governments, have become
alarmed and concerned for the dangers besetting
Muslims and for the crises they are suffering from-

24

which have in certain cases reached the level of
lengthy war as is the case with what is taking place
in our region.

Your Conference is therefore, a live demonstration
of the islamic consensus on the necessity for
serious and joint action to ward off dangers posing a
threat to Muslims and to their solidarity and unity
against the challenges they are facing; and to work
on restoring rapprochement and fraternity to their
ranks.

In keeping away from engagement in differences
and settling their disputes, the Muslims, with their
human potentialities, material resources and
spiritual forces will be able to take a positive role not
only to the advantage of the Islamic peoples but
also to that of mankind at large.

Such a role is inspired by the glorious Islamic
Message, It will be a renewal of the great historical
role which the Muslims have performed during their
golden eras, when they have contributed to
civilisation and to mankind progress. The Muslims
were able to offer mankind all this rich contribution
in various aspects of science, knowledge, thought
and civilisation, as a result of the sense of
positiveness, cooperation, and openness they have

25

no doubt derived from Islam's human and open-
minded view which is based on good, peace> and
tolerance towards and cooperation with the
followers of other divine religions.

The Muslims are called upon today to follow the
example of their forefathers so as to restore that
glory to their present; to contribute to the progress
of their societies and to the civilisation of the modern
world; and to deepen its spiritual basis in the light of
the teachings of love, cooperation and fraternity.

If the Muslims had in the past made such a
contribution to civilisation and such a performance
in meeting the requirements of the noble divine
Message as a result of their fraternity and
cooperation along the path of good, they will not be
able to do the same now if they will not discard the
reasons of division and disagreement, and opt for
tolerance, cooperation and peace.

Brothers,
Great Ulema,

Thirty months have now passed on this destructive
war which is raging between two neighbours
connected with many well-known bonds. Such
bonds are supposedly a safeguard against conflict
and losses between the two countries so that they
can provide the necessary potentialities for
construction and prosperity of their peoples, and
encounter the dangers of Zionism which has taken
advantage of the war and the persistence in
continuing it to perpetrate its crimes, whether in
invading Lebanon and massacring the Palestinians
and the Lebanese, or in launching aggression
against the Iraqi nuclear reactor which was built for
peaceful and construction purposes.

It is strange indeed that the path of peace and
sparing innocent people's blood is quite clear to all
sensible people, but some avoid it for reasons of
arrogance and persistence in aggression. Such an
attitude is a breach to the teachings of Islam, the
values of heaven and the laws of earth.

You, must have been hurt and concerned for what
is taking place in our region as a result of the war
between Iraq and Iran.

Brothers

You have come to Baghdad, the city of peace and
the bastion of the noble Islamic values, as dear

26

27

guests to its people, where you are holding your
Conference now. However, Baghdad will not be
pleased that you should be biased to the Iraqi point
of view in your discussions, resolutions and
recommendations at the expense of right and
justice - far be it from you that you so do. What
naghdad seeks that you hear what we say and
give it your judgements on the basis of the
pr.nciples of Sharia', justice and fairness.

You are no doubt aware of the fact that both Iraq
and Iran are accusing each other of starting
aggression and war, and that we have our own
evidence and proofs on the conditions and reasons
which had led to the eruption of the war, which we
submitted to the Islamic Conference of Al-Taif.
Saudi Arabia. Since you are our guests now, we
shall not take advantage of your presence here to
burden you with our views. Nor shall we give such
view a greater chance of presentation than it would
have should the other party were present.

What we would say, brothers, is that we have
written to the late King Khalid in his capacity as the
Chairman of the Islamic Conference Organisation
and to President Ahmed Sekou Toure in his capacity
as the Chairman of Islamic Good Will Mission

28

requesting the judgement of Muslims in the question
of who started aggression and war, and
consequently in settling differences between Iraq
and Iran.

You may appreciate our position expressed
through this initiative. If so is the attitude to the
question of who started aggression and war, it is
quite clear to every fair-minded person that it is
Iran's regime which persists in continuing the war.
Its successive attacks on Iraq, the statements of its
officials and its official attitudes to the issue serve as
ample evidence of its persistence in continuing war
and aggression.

As for Iraq's attitude to the continuation of war it is
quite clear. Since the first week of the war, Iraq has
relentlessly sought peace. We have called for a
ceasefire and offered Iran peace on September 28,
1980. We have accepted the United Nations
Security Council's resolutions of September 28,
1980, July 12, 1982 and October 4, 1982. Moreover,
we have unilaterally observed a ceasefire from
October 5-8, 1980 in response to an appeal by
President of Pakistan, Zia-ul-Haq who was making
good will efforts in his capacity as Chairman of the
Islamic Conference Organisation at the time.

29

Iraq has taken opportunity of various holy religious
occasions to reiterate its call for Peace and its
desire for a ceasefire. It has relentlessly sought an
end to bloodshed through those initiatives while the
other side was so involved in aggression that it was
escalating fighting and making large human
deployments with a view to occupying our towns
and territories. Iraq's attitude towards the exchange
o\ visits by the families of the prisoners of war is
quite clear. It was exhausted by the evasive
attempts, manoeuvres and pretexts made by the
other side to undermine this initiative and bring it to
failure. Even the international and Islamic parties
mediating to facilitate the visits have despaired of
reaching a result because of the rejection and
manoeuvres which faced their efforts

Instead of responding to those initiatives, the
rulers of Iran committed an act which constituted a
Iragrant breach to all concepts of Islam when they
executed many Iraqi prisoners of war. They have
also withheld the names of other prisoners of war
from the International Red Cross Committee, thus
causing many complex consequences to their
families in terms of inheritance and marriage
because of these families' ignorance of the fate of

30

their sons whether they are still alive or dead.

As for the Iranian children who were pushed into
fighting by the rulers of Iran with total disregard to
all religious and human values, and who had fallen
prisoner to Iraq forces, Iraq has done its best to
return them to their families. Similar efforts were
made by international organisations and parties
without any result but the persistence of those rulers
in refusing the return of those innocent children to
their families.

Ever since the start of the war, Iraq has
cooperated in a positive and highly responsible
manner with all international and Islamic efforts, in
particular, to settle the dispute and put an end to
fighting. It has positively responded to all mediation
efforts by the United Nations, the Islamic
Conference Organisation, the Non-aligned
Movement and all other mediation efforts aimed at
stopping the fighting and reaching a peaceful
settlement for the conflict on the bases of respect of
sovereignty; non-interference in internal affairs; and
international treaties, conventions and laws.

In the Seventh Non-aligned Summit Conference of
New Delhi, Iraq has proposed that an arbitration
committee should be formed to determine the

31

responsibility of the party starting the war, and the
party responsible for the continuation of the armed
conflict for all this period in order to reach practical
results with a view to stopping war, and punishing
the aggresor which rejects these results.

Iran has of course refused this-which is a further
point exposing the aggressor and underlining its
persistence in continuing its aggression.

As is well-known to all, the rulers of Iran try to
impose arbitrary conditions to end the war. They
also try to use an Islamic cover for their arbitrary
conditions.

In rejecting these unfair conditions, Iraq is in tact,
acting in line with the principles of Islam and
international law, and with the right of peoples to
sovereignty, independence and dignity. Such
arbitrary conditions obviously serve as yet another
proof of the persistence in continuing war and the
intentions of aggression and expansionism.

Thus, brothers, you realise the efforts made by
Iraq to stop this war which was imposed on it, as
well as the serious measures it has taken to avoid its
evil consequences... All our fierce fighting whose
news you have been following is merely for
defending ourselves, our honour and our land.

32

There was no need for such great sacrifices if not for
the persistence of the aggressor in its aggression.
For, we want, as you and the whole world know,
these potentialities to be oriented towards the
construction of our country and to the realisation of
our people's aspirations for progress and
prosperity.

The progress enjoyed by Iraq serves as clear
evidence of the determination of its people to lead a
new dignified life which is worthy of human being,
and abundant with all facilities of creativity and
innovation. It also serves as yet another proof of the
need of the Iraqi people for peace which provides
an opportunity to carry on the process of
construction and the performance of its national and
human role.

The great Ufema will no doubt be able to be
acquainted with certain aspects of this revival so
that they can judge whether a people with such
objectives and efforts can slip into war or be
pleased with it.

Brothers,

If our people was forced to enter war, it so did in

33

defence of its land, honour, dignity, present and
future - which is a duty ordained by both positive
and divine laws.

Brothers, Members of the Conference,

The tasks of building up our new society on the
basis of justice, equality and the provision of good
life for the Iraqi people, as well as the tasks
shouldered by Iraq on the national (Arab) and
Islamic levels and in the field of combating the plans
of Zionism and colonialism are not easy tasks.
Rather they demand great efforts and potentialities.
The war undoubtedly obstructs and paralyses such
efforts. Triggering war by any party whatsoever is a
contribution to obstructing the process of
construction and progress, as well as an attempt to
undermine the state of revival which has been
introduced by the July Revolution 1968.

Before God, our people, our Arab nation and the
magnanimous Islamic teachings, we realise our
responsibility for protecting the course of revival
and the aspirations of our people for advanced life
whereby it can contribute, together with other
nations, to making progress and to establishing the

J4

values of justice, equality, good and love which
were preached by the great Islam.

Therefore, it is iflogical that Iraq should opt for
engaging itself in battles which would drain its
resources; exhaust of building up its new society,
and its national (Arab) and human role.

We give priority for the protection of our people, of
the achievements of our Revolution and of the
process of our revival in whatever step we take.
However, we have used all means of self-discipline
and wisdom to avoid war, and sought to stop it after
it had erupted. But the other side has been
persistent in continuing aggression opting for
nothing but hatred, with total disregard to the
meaning of neighbourliness and to the values of
Islam.

Despite the clarity of the situation for all Muslims -
Ulema, Scholars and general public - they,
including the Iraqis, look forward for your"
Conference, which is attended by the noble Ulema
and religious dignitaries, to say its word, shoulder its
responsibility and contribute to reaching a
settlement for this ferocious war, in accordance with
what is ordained by the Shari'a of Islam.

With their enlightened vision and their realisation of

35

the huge losses and damage sustained by Muslims
as a result of the fighting between two Islamic
neighbours, the Muslim Ulema who responded to
holding this Conference have to shoulder the
serious tasks of seeking a just settlement ensuring
the legitimate rights of both countries and putting an
end to this bleeding. The key and the first step
towards this serious effort is a ceasefire to avoid
further bloodshed.

Brothers,

The divine law calls on all Muslims to work on
preventing Muslims' bloodshed and putting an end
to the aggressor's acts, as is stated in the Holy
Quran that if two parties of the faithful are fighting
each other, Muslims should try to solve their
dispute, but if one of them commits aggression
against the other, they should fight the aggressor
until it heeds to God's ordinance.

Our belief in the principles of right and justice and
our sense of responsibility before Muslims call for us
all to seek truth as a step to reaching an objective
and just settlement based on principles in order to
achieve peace and establish principles of good

36

neighbourliness of Islam and of international norms
and conventions.

Brothers,

Members of the Conference,

It is quite surprising for every sincere Muslim that
the Arabs and Muslims, with all their great resources
and all the clarity of their right are not fully able to
stop the Zionist aggression. This is no doubt due to
the state of decline and disagreement prevailing
among them and fragmenting their power. After the
criminal Zionists had invaded Lebanon; participated
in and prepared for the massacres of the Palestinian
Refugee Camps of Sabra and Chatilla; massacred
the resistance fighters; killed innocent aged
persons, women and children; set farms ablaze;
and destroyed towns, they have persisted in
continuing their occupation and procrastinated in
withdrawing their forces. They are even trying to
distract attention away from their crimes in Lebanon
through committing crimes of poisoning over a
thousand of male and female students in the
occupied territories with total disregard to human

37

conscience and ethics.

What outrages and exacerbates Muslims is that
this criminal act is reported to have been designed
to inflict sterility upon the Palestinians-which IS part
of the Zionist plan of genocide against the

Palestinian people.

Behind such continuing Zionist aggression is no
doubt the unlimited political, military and financial
support rendered to the Zionist entity by the
colonialism. Without such aid the Zionists would not
be able to launch aggression against Arabs and
Muslims, nor would they adopt such a reckless
attitude to the will of the international community and
to the resolutions of the United Nations and the

Security Council.

The Arabs and Muslims are called upon to
confront the crimes of Zionism and to stop its
aggression against the holy places especially the
Holy Quds against which it seeks to apply a policy
of judaisation whereby its Arab and Islamic features
are to be removed and deformed. They are also
called upon to encounter the methods of genocide
practised by Zionism against the Palestinian people
through denying it the simplest human rights,

expropriating its property and driving it out.

38

There is ample evidence that the Zionist entity,
with the help of colonialism and Islam's enemies, is
still planning for stirring unrest in Islamic and Arab
countries in particular In so doing, it aims at
facilitating the fragmentation of these countries into
yet weaker and more fragmented entities;
establishing sectarian and racialist entities there;
and striking at the unity and consensus of Muslims
so as to impose its influence and realise its covetous
ambitions and those of its colonialist masters.

The Zionist entity has found in this destructive war
(between Iraq and Iran) a golden chance to put its
plan into action. The events of war have proved this
- which, together with other factors have prompted
Iraq to demand, and have confirmed its desire for
an end to the war so that it can shoulder its national
(Arab) and Islamic tasks in confronting Zionism and
challenging its plans.

Your Eminence,

We highly appreciate your great concern for the
unity of Muslims and your legitimate worry over the
continuation of war between Iraq and Iran, which is
used by the enemies and the Zionists in particular,

39

to realise new chapters in their conspiracy against
the Arabs and Muslims and their expansionist
dreams, and make expansion at the expense of the
Arab nation and its rights.

As you have met in the land of good and holy
places, we hope that the Almighty will grant you
levelheadedness to realise the noble aims for which
you have met, and to reach positive results for the
good of Islam and Muslims and for patching up the
rift which poses a great threat to their existence and
to their unity.

"Say work, God will see your work, as will His
Messenger and the faithful"

The Holy Quran.

May God grant you success.

Peace be upon you.

40

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